Stepladder



July 2, 1935. MCNEAL 2,007,057

STEPLADDER Filed Aug. 10, 1934 Alexa/uh! M/Va BU M (Ittorneg PatentedJuly 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEPLADDER.

Alexander McNeal, Bucyrus, Ohio Application August 10, 1934, Serial No.739,343

1 Claim. (Cl. 22831) My present invention relates generally to stepladders, or in other words that type of ladder which embodies a stepsection having at its upper end a platform, a prop section which ishinged 5 to said platform to swing toward and away from said stepsection, and side braces pivoted to, and connecting, said step and propsections which, when flexed, permit of such movement of the prop sectionand, when straightened, hold the two 10 sections in relatively inclinedpositions in use.

In order to occupy minimum storage space in disuse, it is ordinarilyessential that the prop section be not of greater width than the stepsection, and the usual prop section consists of side legs rigidlyconnected by crossed braces.

My invention aims to provide for greater stability of the step ladder inuse by arranging for a lateral spreading of the legs ofthe prop sectionand their secure fastening in an outward or lateral inclination as wellas a rearward inclination with respect to the step section, and includesan adjustable rear brace for the rear legs whereby they may be clampedin laterally extended and retracted positions respectively in use anddisuse.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel, simple andeffective means for adjustably clamping the prop legs, having means tocooperate with the ladder side braces in the avoidance of multipleconnections with the prop legs, in order to preserve as nearly aspossible their full natural strength and durability.

With these and other objects in mind, my invention will be betterunderstood and more thoroughly appreciated from the following detaileddescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawingwhich forms a part of this specification and in which Figure l is aperspective view of my improved step ladder with the two sections spreadapart and showing in dotted lines the prop legs laterally extended.

Figure 2 is a partial horizontal section showing the prop legsretracted, and,

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the prop legs extended.

Referring now to these figures, I have shown in Figure 1 my improvedstep ladder as consisting of a platform l0, to the under surface ofwhich a pair of rear prop legs II are hinged to swing not 50 onlyforwardly and rearwardly to and from the step section l2, but alsolaterally with respect to one another the hinges being seen at III. Inthis way, the prop legs when shifted rearwardly away from the stepsection l2 to the normal position of use of the step ladder, may bespread apart or laterally inclined with respect to one another toincrease the distance between their ground engaging ends and thuspromote greater stability of the ladder upon a supporting surface.

In order to control the prop legs II, a pair of angular bars l4 and I5are provided with their body portions overlapping one anothertransversely between the prop legs I l intermediate the endsthereof, oneof these bars having a lengthwise slot I 6 and the other bar having arigid clamping screw l1 projecting through slot IE to receive a clampingnut ill by which the bars may be held in various positions of adjustmentcorresponding to the positions to which it is desired to either extendor retract the legs H. The bar l4 also has a bent terminal tongue I 9entering the slot I6 so as to prevent any tendency of the two bars topivot on the clamping screw ll.

The bars I4 and I5, at their outer portions extend across the rear facesof the prop legs I I and have forwardly angular extensions 20 and 2|respectively, each of which is securely fastened to its respective legas by means of a rivet and like fastening member 22, each extensionprojecting forwardly of its respective leg so as to support a pivotalconnection 23 with the rear end of the respective rear side brace 24.

The rear side braces 24 are as usual pivotally connected at theirforward ends at 25 with the forward side braces 26 whose forward endsare pivotally connected at 21 with the side rails of the step sectionl2.

By thus connecting the rear ends of the side braces with forwardextensions of the rear transverse adjusting bars of the prop legs, it isobvious that but a single point of connection with the prop legs isrequired where otherwise at least two connections would be necessarywith a consequent reduction of the normal or natural strength of theselegs. My invention thus not only effectively serves the intended purposeof greater stability in use, but accomplishes this without in any waydetracting from the strength and normal durability of the parts inconnection with which it is used.

What I claim is:

A step ladder including a platform and a step section, a prop sectionconsisting of a pair of legs hinged to the platform to swing forwardlyand rearwardly toward and from the step section and laterally withrespect to one another, hinged side braces connected at their forwardends to the step section, a pair of overlapping bars extendingtransversely between the prop legs, one of which has a lengthwise slot,and the other of which has a terminal portion entering the slot and aclamping member extending through the slot for securing the bars inadjusted position, said bars having forwardly projecting angularportions at their outer ends secured to the outer side portions of theprop legs and pivoted to the rear ends of the said side braces.

ALEX. McNEAL.

